BE PART OF SOMETHING AMAZING.

BE PART OF A CREW.

Ready to Join Our Crew?

Each summer, the Guild celebrates our hard work preserving and maintaining our vessels by coming together to go sailing on board Gazela. From training sails on the Delaware River to participating in festivals up and down the Eastern Seaboard, these monthly ventures allow members of the PSPG community to highlight Gazela's history while practicing their skills as mariners and crew.

Our Introduction to the Guild and Vessel Familiarization classes are great introductory levels that we would recommend completing first, before going onto more involved coursework.

To participate in our sails, you must be a current PSPG member and complete Line Handling and How to Be a Good, Safe Shipmate. For a full list of sailing requirements to determine your eligibility, be sure to review our updated sailing policy.

If you have questions about your eligibility or membership status, please reach out to us at volunteer@philashipguild.org.

Check our events page to see what we are currently offering and RSVP there so we know you're coming!

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Requirements: Must be at least 16 years of age or 14 with a parent’s participation. Closed toed shoes are required. Be sure to wear something you don’t mind getting dirty! Many of our ship restoration and preservation activities will leave you covered in dirt, paint, sweat, and sawdust. We recommend avoiding clothing that is too loose (as it might catch on machinery) or is movement restrictive.

Introductory Class Descriptions

Introduction to the Guild

This introductory class welcomes new PSPG Volunteer Crew Members to our history, mission, ships, and how our program works. Volunteering is as simple as showing up on a Saturday, but understanding what comes next, and how to get involved effectively, can feel unclear at first. This session provides that roadmap, offering an overview of our past, our current vessel operations, our mission, and where we’re headed.

How to be a Good, Safe Shipmate

Gazela is many things at once: a sailing ship, a workplace, a museum, a home, and a living piece of history. To succeed here, we commit to a collective responsibility. Caring for the ship, supporting one another, and communicating clearly about our own needs are all important. We are stewards of a vessel entrusted to us by past generations, and we work together so future generations can experience her too.

You’ll learn how shared responsibility, mutual respect, and the maritime chain of command create order, safety, and accountability on board. From understanding why “there’s no such thing as not my mess,” to knowing when and how to speak up for yourself, this session sets the cultural foundation for being a reliable, supportive, and safety-minded member of the crew.

Vessel Familiarization

This guided tour introduces crew to the layout, systems, and working spaces of Gazela Primeiro, helping you understand how the ship functions as a vessel, workplace, and home. Beginning on deck, you’ll learn the purpose and safe use of key areas and equipment, including the foredeck, bowsprit, anchors, windlass, donkey engine, galley, deckhouse, companionways, pilothouse, and steering gear.

Belowdecks, the tour continues through the foc’sle and crew accommodations, storage spaces, tank room, heads, hold, workshop, bilge, fire and pumping systems, engine room, salon, cabins, ship’s office, lazarette, and hawser storage. Emphasis is placed on orientation, safety, and stewardship. Importance is placed on how each space is used, how critical systems operate, and how to properly secure and lock all openings to protect the ship and those aboard.

Line Handling

Learn the fundamentals of seamanship, from the anatomy of a rope (standing end, bitter end, bight, and right-hand lay with a clockwise coil) to essential safety practices: always know when a line is under tension, never step in a coil or on a rope, and leave lines clear so they can run freely. Communication is critical—callbacks are given only by the person performing the task to avoid confusion.

Hands-on demonstrations cover safe use of a belaying pin (terminology, taking and throwing turns, palming, easing, tailing, and making fast), proper hauling techniques (hand-over-hand, sweating, straight downs, and coordinated easing), and correct coiling and hanging (clockwise coils, hung tight to the pin at the proper height, with lines recoiled before stowing).

Basic Knots

This class introduces the essential knots every crew member should know and use with confidence. You’ll learn how to tie and apply the bowline, reef (square) knot, figure eight, and clove hitch, with an emphasis on when each knot is appropriate, how to dress and set them correctly, and how to inspect them for safety. These foundational skills are critical for securing lines, making fast to fittings, and working efficiently and safely on deck and aloft.

A great resource to get ahead can be found here:

https://www.maritimemuseum.co.nz/collections/10-essential-knots-every-sailor-should-know

Intermediate Class Descriptions

Basics of Watchkeeping

This session builds practical knowledge of the ship’s core systems and how information is gathered, interpreted, and communicated. Crew are introduced to basic meteorology, including barometric pressure, weather measurement tools, and the use of weather logs to track conditions and support safe operations. Traditional and modern navigation tools are also covered, such as the lead line, chip log, and patent (taffrail) log—how they work,

when and why they are used, and their historical role at sea.

The class also includes flag etiquette and basic signal flag coding, with special attention to proper port display. Emphasis is placed on clear, accurate communication, preparing crew to serve as an effective link between the mate and the launch during operations.

Boat Check

This training class includes all of the steps to do a proper boat check and fire watch. All crew share responsibility for noticing and reporting anything out of the ordinary aboard the ship, such as leaks, unusual odors, fallen or unsecured gear, or electrical issues. White lights should remain off unless in use.

Always be alert for signs of smoke, fire, sparking, or unusual sounds from wiring or equipment, and for any indication that the vessel is taking on water. Concerns that are not immediately dangerous should be reported to the Vessel Manager; any sign of fire, electrical failure, or flooding requires immediate evacuation and notification of the Coast Guard.

Going Aloft

Learn what equipment to use and how to stay safe when climbing Gazela’s rig.

Suggested prerequisites:

Get your own (or borrow) a fixed blade knife and marlinespike with belt sheath (something like this is a fine starting option)
Bring a climbing harness.
Ideally, participate in all other classes first, but if you haven’t had the chance, make sure to catch them next time

Emergency Response

This class prepares crew to respond safely and effectively during emergencies both at sea and dockside. At sea, a vigilant, knowledgeable crew is the ship’s only resource. Early detection and quick, coordinated action are critical to preventing or managing emergencies. Dockside, crew have the support of port emergency services but also bear the added responsibility of ensuring visitor safety first.

Participants will learn to locate and understand the Station Bill, which outlines crew roles for emergencies such as fire, man overboard, or abandon ship, and how to execute their responsibilities under the direction of the Captain, Mate, or officer in charge. The class emphasizes that no action should be taken independently if it risks crew safety, the ship, or the operation of the vessel.

Anchoring/Chain Gang

Learn the fundamentals of anchoring, including the theory behind how anchors hold, different types of anchors and why each works, and how to select a safe anchorage. Crew will practice using the windlass on the chain gang, setting a pelican hook, calculating rode length, and securing the anchor properly. The class also covers what to do if the anchor begins to drag, ensuring safe and confident anchoring in all conditions.

Upcoming Events

Visit us
down at Penn's Landing.

The Barkentine Gazela is located at Penn’s Landing south of Independence Seaport Museum (211 S Christopher Columbus Blvd) along the Penn's Landing Quay.

The Tugboat Jupiter is located just south of Gazela.

Our barge Poplar is further north (next to Penn’s Landing Dog Park).

$280,043.72

$554,902.10

last updated, 2/17/26

BE PART OF SOMETHING AMAZING.

BE PART OF A CREW.

Ready to Join Our Crew?

Introductory Class Descriptions

Introduction to the Guild

How to be a Good, Safe Shipmate

Vessel Familiarization

Line Handling

Basic Knots

Intermediate Class Descriptions

Basics of Watchkeeping

Boat Check

Going Aloft

Emergency Response

Anchoring/Chain Gang

Upcoming Events

Visit us
down at Penn's Landing.

$280,043.72

$554,902.10

last updated, 2/17/26

BE PART OF SOMETHING AMAZING.

BE PART OF A CREW.

Ready to Join Our Crew?

Introductory Class Descriptions

Introduction to the Guild

Intermediate Class Descriptions

Basics of Watchkeeping

​Upcoming Events

Visit us down at Penn's Landing.

Upcoming Events

Visit us
down at Penn's Landing.